Coxraterbalak cihcr device eos steering- wheel posts



P. LINK. COUNTERBALANCING DEVICE FOR STEERING WHEEL POSTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1921.

Patented Au". 8, 1922.

PHILIP? LINE, OF NEWARK, NEVT JERSESC COUNTERBALANCING DEVICE FOR STEERING lVHEEL EOSIS.

asagna.

Application filed July 26,

1% all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Pmnrrr LINK, a citizen of the United States of America, residino at Newark, in the county of Essex; and utate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counterloalancing Devices for Steering li heel Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor driven vehicles and particularly to an improve ment in the steering ,wheel post construc' tion.

With ordinary constructions of motor ve hicles the steering wheel has to be constantly held by the hands of the driver because the front wheels have the tendency to turn sideways. A momentary release of the steering wheel frequently results in serious accidents.

The object of this invention is to provide a counterbalancing device which will tend to maintain constantly the front wheels in straight position, and therefore, permit the release of the steering wheel whenever this may be required, without danger of accidents.

To accomplish this object my invention consists in the provision of oppositely acting springs which are adapted to actuate the steering wheel post so as to hold the latter constantly in a certain position.

I also provide adjusting means whereby the springs may be adjusted whenever the tension of one should vary from that of the other.

My invention also consists in the provision of suitable means for indicating from the drivers seat the position of the front wheels.

In the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts, Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a part of a motor vehicle showing the springs applied to the steering wheel post; Fig. 2 is a face view of the steering wheel and the indicator; Fig. 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1 of a modified construction, and Fig. 1- is a cross section on line l-4t of Fig. 3, and Figs. 5 and 6 show diagrammatically in side view and elevation a modified construction of an indicator.

In the drawing a denotes the dash board of a motor vehicle, Z) the motor, 0 the casing or tubing around the post 03 and e the steering wheel. The post d has a portion d Specification of Letters Patent.

l' atcnted sing 8, 1922.

1921. Serial no. 487,764.

provided with opposite threads. Mounted around the part of the post which extends below the dash board are two oppositely acting springs 10, 11, the remote ends 10, ll of which are attached to stationary parts, such as the dash board a and motor casing b, as shown. The adjacent ends 10 11 of the springs are attached to the post d itself, or, as shown, to screw nuts 12, l t workingon the threaded portion all there of, The springs 10, 11 are adapted to be of uniform tension to in cooperation counterbalance each other, thereby normally iolding the post d in a certain position, i. e., in the position corresponding to the straight position of the front wheels of the Vehicles. A slight force will be required to overcome the tension of one or the other of the springs when turning the steering post tothe right or left of its neutral position. Thus normally the front wheels through the action of the oounterbalancing springs will be caused to occupy and retain the straight position, so that the driver will be permitted without any danger to remove his hands from the steering wheel Whenever a straight course is pursued.

Should the springs show variations in tensions an adjustment thereof can be effected by tightening or slackening the ad justing nuts 12, 14c. Counter nuts 13, 15 may be used for preventing accidental slackening of the adjusting nuts 12 and 14.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the springs 10 and 11 are arranged around the part of the post projecting outwardly and upwardly from the dash board, and their ends 10, 11 are attached to the casing 0. To make these springs accessible for adjustment the sleeve or tubing 0 is cut out as at 0* adjacent to the nuts 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Projecting from the tubing or casing 0 below and adjacent to the steering wheel a is an indicator or finger 16. On the circumference of the steering wheel may be provided a mark 17 which when in register with the finger 16 will indicate to the driver the neutral position of the steering wheel and consequently the straight position of the wheels. In case when the steering wheel is released its mark 17 does not register with the finger 16 an adjustment of the springs will be necessary.

In lieu of the indicator or finger 16, a finger 18 in form of a pin or rod may be applied to the steering post (Z as shown in and the-construction of my "device Without departing from the spirit of my invention I do not limit myself to the details described and shown. i

What I claim is i V x 1. In a steering'wheelpost for motor yehides, oppositely acting counterbalancing springs mounted around saidpost and nor-'1 lnailly holding thefpost in a position corresponding to the straight position of the front Wheels and nieansito'r the adjustment of the tension of said springs.

2,111 a vehicle a steering y vhe-el post ing an oppositely threaded portion; two op positely acting .counterbalancing springs mounted around. said post in superposed position and attached with one of their ends to a stationary part oi said vehicle, nuts working on said threaded portion and each having attached tovit theyother end of the corresponding spring, said springs serving normally to hold said post in neutral position.

3. In a vehicle, a steering Wheel, a post therefor having. an oppositely threaded portion, oppositely acting counterbalancing springs 'r'nounted around said, post in superposed position, a casing for the posthaying a long tudinal opening opposite the threaded portion of the post, one end of each spring being fastenedto said casing and nuts. Working on said threaded portion and accessible through said'openings, the other end of each spring being attached to the corresponding nut, said springs serving to normally hold the post in neutral position audsaid nuts serving-tor the adjustment of the tension of said springs. testimony whereof 'I afliX in presence of two Witnesses.

PHILI PP LINK.- Witnesses i MAX D. OR'DMANN,

Josnrii T. MoMAI-ioN.

my signature, 

